The Pain Of Growth

I write for a larger audience. Not everything I write is just for Spring Meadows but some think that. Not everything I write is a reaction to past or present but some of it is. But all of what I write is to edify.

Not all of you had growing pains but I distinctly remember what I can only describe as my bones hurting when I was a preteen and young teen and mom telling me it was just my bones growing. She wasn’t a doc but I suspect she was close to correct.

Growth is challenging. While most covet, at least verbally, growth, it brings on extra burdens. With spiritual growth - it opens more questions, may break down preconceived ideas or beliefs. With numerical it may displace others or make them feel uncomfortable. It could ruffle feathers of those who like things the “way they’ve always been”. It scares some who see the unknown with suspicion. It will cause some to act up or out. It may uncover deeper issues like some who hold authority close to the vest and new people threaten to defuse that authority. It will stretch leaders and call for more leader which always leaves “some in and some out”. It will leave some who aren’t willing to do the hard work thinking they no longer know everyone. Folks growth is hard work.

If you have 4 or 5 people in a family you’ll occasionally have a difference of opinion - if you have 100 folks in the congregation you’ll sometimes have the same. But with every one person you add you add an opinion, an outlooks. a past.

Yes growth is wonderful and exciting and fun but it is also challenging. At Spring Meadows we’ve grown and swollen through moves from about 40 to over 300 (last week there were 356 at our morning service). We comfortably hold about 275 in our little building - 350 isn’t comfortable. We have seating issues, classroom issues, parking issues and a mixture of pretty much all the issues above.

But if God reigns, if His Word is authority and if we love each other and behave it’ll keep going and growing to God’s Glory. Never to ours. This is bigger than any one person or anyone person’s ability or views. We are blessed.

Is it hard? It may be growth is in sight!

Yes, growth, regardless of it’s source can be painful, but I’m enjoying “the pain of growth”.

What have I left out - I know there’s a lot - post away. And guys and gals, remember I don’t control what people post. If it gets ugly I’ll pull a post but it should go without saying that I am not responsible for the views that are under the “Add a Comment” line. I often disagree but learn and think there is value in most all of them.